Mount for instruments and the like

ABSTRACT

A mount for attaching an instrument or other article to a mounting surface. The mount includes a mounting bracket having a base to be attached to the mounting surface and a pair of parallel sidewalls rising from the base for straddling a coupling tongue on the article to be supported. The sidewalls are formed with outwardly directed flanges along their edges and with slots which open endwise through the sidewall edges and flanges. The article is attached to the mounting bracket by means of a coupling pin which extends through the bracket slots and the article coupling tongue. This coupling pin has enlarged shoulder elements which project laterally beyond the sides of the slots and under the sidewall flanges to effectively captivate the pin against axial and lateral separation from the bracket. The mounting bracket is uniquely shaped to be cast in finished form without the aid of removable cores, thus to minimize production cost.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Edwin L. Schwartz Los Angeles, Calif.[21] Appl. No. 864,310 [22] Filed Oct. 7, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 16,1971 [73] Assignee Rite Autotronics Corporation Los Angeles, Calif.

[54] MOUNT FOR INSTRUMENTS AND THE LIKE 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 248/291, 240/82, 248/479 [51] Int. Cl. B601 l/32 [50} FieldotSearch 16/171, 172; 240/81, 8.2, 8.3; 248/286, 291, 485, 489, 479,284,289, 259, 324

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 632,858 9/1899 Waibel et al248/29lx 1,321,257 11/1919 Stearns 248/289x 248/291):

2,708,224 5/1955 Rittenhouse .1:

ABSTRACT: A mount for attaching an instrument or other article to amounting surface. The mount includes a mounting bracket having a base tobe attached to the mounting surface and a pair of parallel sidewallsrising from the base for straddling a coupling tongue on the article tobe supported. The sidewalls are formed with outwardly directed flangesalong their edges and with slots which open endwise through the sidewalledges and flanges. The article is attached to the mounting bracket bymeans of a coupling pin which extends through the bracket slots and thearticle coupling tongue. This coupling pin has enlarged shoulderelements which project laterally beyond the sides of the slots and underthe sidewall flanges to effectively captivate the pin against axial andlateral separation from the bracket. The mounting bracket is uniquelyshaped to be cast in finished form without the aid of removable cores,thus to minimize production cost.

PAIENTED mm 6 Ian I N VENTOR.

47-705mm;- Y

MOUNT FOR INSTRUMENTS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l Fieldof the Invention This invention relates generally to mounting devicesfor instruments and other articles and more particularly to a mount foran article having a depending coupling tongue.

'2. Prior Art A conventional mount of the class described includes amounting bracket with a base to be attached to a mounting surface, and apair'of sidewalls rising from the base to straddle the coupling tongueof the article to be supported. The article is attached to the mountingbracket by means of a coupling bolt which extends through the bracketsidewalls and the article-coupling tongue.

The mounting brackets for mounts of this kind may be fabricated invarious ways. The present invention is primarily concerned with suchmounting brackets which are produced by a casting or molding process.

The existing cast-mounting brackets are characterized by onedisadvantage which this invention overcomes. The disadvantage referredto involves the manner in which the bracket sidewalls are formed withopenings to receive the bracket coupling bolt. In some cases, thesidewall openings comprise slots which open through the edges of thebracket sidewalls. The advantage of this bracket configuration residesin the fact that the mounting bracket may be molded or cast in onepiece, complete with the sidewall slots, without the aid of removablecores in the mold or die cavity. While this method of fabricationreduces the production cost of the mounting bracket, the resultingbracket configuration is not satisfactory for the reason that it doesnot positively captivate the coupling bolt. As a consequence, thearticle being supported is free to separate from the mounting bracketwhen the coupling bolt is loosened.

This latter problem may be avoided by providing the mounting bracketsidewalls with circular holes to receive the coupling bolt. This bracketconfiguration obviously captivates the coupling bolt and therebyprevents separation of the bolt from the bracket when the bolt isloosened. The bolt holes may be provided in the bracket sidewalls ineither of two ways. Thus, the bolt holes may be cast in the bracketsidewalls. Alternatively, these bolt holes may be drilled after thebracket has been cast. In either case, production costs aresubstantially increased. The increased production cost involved incasting the holes in the bracket sidewalls results from the necessity ofusing removable cores in the die or mold cavity to form the holes. Theincreased production cost involved in drilling the holes results fromthe additional steps which are then necessary to initially set up themounting bracket in a drilling machine and to thereafter operate themachine to actually drill the holes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvedmounting bracket configuration for a mount of the class described. Thebolt holes in the bracket sidewalls comprise slots which open throughthe sidewall edges so that the slots may be cast directly in thesidewalls without the aid of removable cores in the die or mold cavity.The production cost of the mounting bracket is thereby substantiallyreduced. This reduction in production cost is due, in part, to theomission of removable cores from the. casting or molding operation and,in part, to the omission of drilling operations following the castingoperation. A feature of the invention resides in the fact that themounting bracket is uniquely shaped to captivate the coupling pin orbolt, thus to prevent inadvertent separation of the pin, and hence thearticle being supported, from the mounting bracket.

To these ends, the sidewalls of the present mounting bracket are formedwith outwardly directed flanges along their edges through which thesidewall slots open. The coupling pin has enlarged shoulder elements atits ends which project laterally beyond the sides of the slots and underthe sidewall flanges in, such a way that the pin is captivated by thebracket against both axial and lateral separation from the bracket.Thus, the invention provides a mounting bracket configuration whichpossesses the advantages of both a captive coupling pin and lowproduction cost resulting from the omission of removable cores from thebracket-casting operation.

In use, the mounting bracket is fixed to a mounting surface,

and the coupling tongue of the instrument or other article to besupported is inserted between the bracket sidewalls. The coupling pin orbolt is then inserted through the sidewall slots and the coupling tongueto secure the article to the bracket. The particular mount illustratedherein is designed to permit pivotal adjustment of the supported articlerelative to the mounting bracket when the coupling pin or bolt isloosened. The captive coupling pin feature of the invention isadvantageous in this case for the reason that it prevents inadvertentseparation of the supported article from the mounting bracket duringsuch pivotal adjustment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of aninstrument mount according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the instrument mount;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on, line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the novel mounting bracket ofthe instrument mount.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to these drawings,there is illustrated an instrument mount 10 according to the inventionsupporting an instrument 12 on a mounting surface 14. The instrumentmount 10 includes a mounting bracket 15 having a generally planarmounting base 16 and a pair of spaced parallel sidewalls 18 rising fromthe base along opposite edges thereof. The outer surfaces of thesesidewalls are flush with the base edges. Depending from the underside ofthe instrument case is a coupling tongue 20 which fits slidably betweenthe bracket sidewalls 18. A coupling pin 22, which in this instance is abolt, extends through the sidewalls and the coupling tongue to securethe instrument 12 to the mounting bracket 15. The bracket, in turn, issecured to the mounting surface 14 by screws 24. In the particularmounting bracket shown, the mounting base 16 is arcuate in cross sectionand arches upwardly to permit attachment of the bracket to either a flatmounting surface, as shown, or to a convex mounting surface.

As noted earlier, the primary feature of the invention resides in theunique configuration of the mounting bracket 15. This configuration issuch that the bracket may be cast or molded in a finished form whichincludes both the mounting base openings 26 for the mounting screws 24and the sidewall openings 28 for the coupling pin 22, and without theaid of removable cores in the die or mold cavity. This feature, then,reduces the production cost of the mounting bracket due, in part, to theelimination of removable cores from the casting operation and, in part,to the elimination of a drilling operation following the castingoperation.

According to another feature of the invention, the mounting bracket 15and the coupling pin 22 are designed to cooperate with one another insuch a way that the coupling pin is captivated by the bracket. Thisfeature prevents both axial and lateral separation of the coupling pinfrom the mounting bracket, even when the pin is loosened to permitadjustment of the instrument 12 relative to the bracket. The instrumentcoupling tongue 20, in turn, is captivated by the coupling pin 22.Accordingly, inadvertent separation of the instrument 12 from themounting bracket 15 is prevented.

To these ends, the mounting bracket sidewalls 18 are formed withoutwardly directed flanges 30 along their upper edges. The sidewallcoupling pin openings 28 comprise vertical slots, normal to the bracketmounting base 16, which open upwardly to the upper sidewall edges andflanges. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the sidewall flanges30 have vertical portions which extend downwardly along the end edges ofthe sidewalls to the mounting base 16. The sidewalls are devoid of anyflanges along their lower edges. The mounting base screw openings 26 arecountersunk holes in the base.

The coupling pin 22 extends through the bracket sidewall slots 28 andthrough an opening 32 the instrument coupling tongue 20. On the ends ofthe pin are enlarged shoulder elements 34 which project laterally beyondthe edges of the slot and under the sidewall flanges 30. The couplingpin 22 is thus captivated by the mounting bracket against both axial andupward lateral separation from the bracket. The particular coupling pinshown is a bolt. Gne shoulder element 34 is formed by bolt head. Theother shoulder element is furnished by a nut threaded on the bolt shank.The opening 32 in the instrument coupling tongue is a slot which opensthrough an edge of the tongue.

Rising from one end of the bracket mounting base 16 is an end wall 34".This end wall extends between and is integrally joined to the adjacentend edges of the bracket sidewalls 18. The instrument 12 is installed onthe mounting bracket 15 in such a way that the slot 32 in its couplingtongue 20 opens away from the end wall 34'. The spacing between this endwall and the coupling bolt 22 is such that the coupling tongue iscaptivated between the end wall and the bolt. Thus, the coupling bolt iscaptivated by the mounting bracket, and the instrument, in turn, iscaptivated by the coupling bolt. Inadvertent separation of theinstrument from the mounting bracket is thereby prevented, even thoughthe coupling bolt accidentally works loose or is deliberately loosenedto adjust the instrument relative to the bracket. In this latter regard,it is significant to note that the upper edges and flanges 30 of thebracket sidewalls 18 slope downwardly toward the mounting base i6 in thedirection of the outer ends of the flanges to accommodate pivotaladjustment of the instrument 12 about the coupling bolt. The bolt may betightened after adjustment to secure the instrument in adjustedposition. The flange adjacent the nut engages the flat sides of the nutto keep it from turning when the bolt is rotated.

The particular instrument 12 shown has a front face 36 adjacent themounting bracket end wall 34'. This end wall, therefore, constitutes afront end wall ofthe mounting bracket 15. The rear end of thebracket-mounting base 16 extends rearwardly of the bracket sidewalls 18and is formed with a raised pad 38 to seat the rear tapered end of theinstrument case 20 when the instrument is rotated rearwardiy.

It is evident from the foregoing description and from the drawings thatthe mounting bracket 15 is uniquely shaped to be molded or cast to afinished form, including its mounting base screw openings 26 and itssidewall slots 28, without the aid of removable cores to form either theopenings or the slots. In other words, these openings and slots, as wellas the other portions of the bracket, may be formed by suitable shapingof the cavity. This molding or casting of the openings and slots, ofcourse, eliminates the need for subsequently drilling and machining thesame after casting of the bracket. The production cost of the bracket isthereby substantially reduced.

I ciaim:

l. A mount for an article, such as an instrument, having a dependingconpling tongue, comprising:

a mounting bracket including a mounting base and a pair of spacedgenerally parallel sidewalls integrally joined to and rising from saidbase along two opposite edges of the base for straddling said couplingtongue;

said sidewalls having outer surfaces flush with said base edges,respectively, outwardly directed flanges along the edges of saidsidewalls, and slots opening endwise through said sidewall edges andflanges; and

said slots being adapted to receive a coupling pin with enlargedshoulder elements at its ends in a manner such that said shoulderelements project laterally beyond the edges captivate said pin againstboth axial and lateral separation from said bracket.

2. A mount according to claim 1 wherein:

said sidewall edges are upper edges of said sidewalls, said slots arevertical slots normal to said base which open up wardly through saidupper edges and flanges, said bracket sidewalls have end edges extendingbetween said base and said upper sidewall edges, and said flanges extendalong said upper wall edges from said slots to said end edges and thendownwardly along said end edges to said base to reinforce saidsidewalls; and

said sidewalls are devoid of flanges along their lower edges.

3. A mount according to claim 2 wherein:

said mounting bracket base has an end edge extending betweencorresponding end edges of said bracket sidewalls; and

said mounting bracket includes an end wall rising from and integrallyjoined to said mounting base along said base end edge and extendingbetween and integrally joined to corresponding end edges of saidsidewalls.

4. A mount for an article, such as an instrument, having a dependingcoupling tongue, comprising:

a mounting bracket including a mounting base and a pair of spacedgenerally parallel sidewalls integrally joined to and rising from saidbase along two opposite side edges of the base for straddling saidcoupling tongue;

said sidewalls having outer surfaces flush with said base edges,respectively, outwardly directed flanges along the edges of saidsidewalls, and slots opening endwise through said sidewall edges andflanges; and

a coupling pin positioned in said sidewall slots and having enlargedshoulder elements at its ends projecting laterally beyond the edges ofsaid slots and under said sidewall flanges, whereby said coupling pin iscaptivated by said mounting bracket against both axial and lateralsepara tion from said bracket.

5. A mount according to claim 4 wherein:

said coupling pin is a bolt having a head forming one of said shoulderelements and a nut threaded on the bolt forming the other shoulderelement; and

the sidewall flange adjacent said coupling bolt nut engaging said nut torestrain the same against rotation when said bolt is rotated.

6. A' mount according to claim 1 wherein said sidewall flanges siopedownwardly toward said mounting base in directions away from said slotsand toward the end edges of said bracket sidewalls.

7. A mount for an article, such as an instrument, having a dependingcoupling tongue comprising:

a mounting bracket including a mounting base and a pair of spacedgenerally parallel sidewalls integrally joined to and rising from saidbase along two opposite side edges of the base;

said sidewalls having outer surfaces flush with said base edges,respectively, outwardly directed flanges along the upper edges of saidsidewalls, and vertical slots generally normal to said base and openingupwardly through said sidewall edges and flanges;

said article-coupling tongue fitting slidably between said bracketsidewalls; and

a coupling pin extending through said bracket sidewall slots and saidcoupling tongue and having lateraily enlarged shoulder elements at itsends which project laterally beyond the edges of said slots and undersaid sidewall flanges, whereby said coupling pin is captivated by saidmounting bracket against both axial and upward lateral separation fromsaid bracket and said articie is positively attached to said mountingbracket.

8. A mount according to claim 7 wherein said coupling pin comprises abolt having a head which forms one of said shoulder elements andmounting a nut which forms the other of said slots and under saidsidewall flanges to positively shoulder element.

end edges of said bracket sidewalls;

said coupling tongue has a slot opening away from said end wall andreceiving said coupling pin; and

the spacing between said end wall and coupling pin is such that saidcoupling tongue is captivated between said end wall and coupling pin.

1. A mount for an article, such as an instrument, having a dependingcoupling tongue, comprising: a mounting bracket including a mountingbase and a pair of spaced generally parallel sidewalls integrally joinedto and rising from said base along two opposite edges of the base forstraddling said coupling tongue; said sidewalls having outer surfacesflush with said base edges, respectively, outwardly directed flangesalong the edges of said sidewalls, and slots opening endwise throughsaid sidewall edges and flanges; and said slots being adapted to receivea coupling pin with enlarged shoulder elements at its ends in a mannersuch that said shoulder elements project laterally beyond the edges ofsaid slots and under said sidewall flanges to positively captivate saidpin against both axial and lateral separation from said bracket.
 2. Amount according to claim 1 wherein: said sidewall edges are upper edgesof said sidewalls, said slots are vertical slots normal to said basewhich open upwardly through said upper edges and flanges, said bracketsidewalls have end edges extending between said base and said uppersidewall edges, and said flanges extend along said upper wall edges fromsaid slots to said end edges and then downwardly along said end edges tosaid base to reinforce said sidewalls; and said sidewalls are devoid offlanges along their lower edges.
 3. A mount according to claim 2wherein: said mounting bracket base has an end edge extending betweencorresponding end edges of said bracket sidewalls; and said mountingbracket includes an end wall rising from and integrally joined to saidmounting base along said base end edge and extending between andintegrally joined to corresponding end edges of said sidewalls.
 4. Amount for an article, such as an instrument, having a depending couplingtongue, comprising: a mounting bracket including a mounting base and apair of spaced generally parallel sidewalls integrally joined to andrising from said base along two opposite side edges of the base forstraddling said coupling tongue; said sidewalls having outer surfacesflush with said base edges, respectively, outwardly directed flangesalong the edges of said sidewalls, and slots opening endwise throughsaid sidewall edges and flanges; and a coupling pin positioned in saidsidewall slots and having enlarged shoulder elements at its endsprojecting laterally beyond the edges of said slots and under saidsidewall flanges, whereby said coupling pin is captivated by saidmounting bracket against both axial and lateral separation from saidbracket.
 5. A mount according to claim 4 wherein: said coupling pin is abolt having a head forming one of said shoulder elements and a nutthreaded on the bolt forming the other shoulder element; and thesidewall flange adjacent said coupling bolt nut engaging said nut torestrain the same against rotation when said bolt is rotated.
 6. A mOuntaccording to claim 1 wherein said sidewall flanges slope downwardlytoward said mounting base in directions away from said slots and towardthe end edges of said bracket sidewalls.
 7. A mount for an article, suchas an instrument, having a depending coupling tongue comprising: amounting bracket including a mounting base and a pair of spacedgenerally parallel sidewalls integrally joined to and rising from saidbase along two opposite side edges of the base; said sidewalls havingouter surfaces flush with said base edges, respectively, outwardlydirected flanges along the upper edges of said sidewalls, and verticalslots generally normal to said base and opening upwardly through saidsidewall edges and flanges; said article-coupling tongue fittingslidably between said bracket sidewalls; and a coupling pin extendingthrough said bracket sidewall slots and said coupling tongue and havinglaterally enlarged shoulder elements at its ends which project laterallybeyond the edges of said slots and under said sidewall flanges, wherebysaid coupling pin is captivated by said mounting bracket against bothaxial and upward lateral separation from said bracket and said articleis positively attached to said mounting bracket.
 8. A mount according toclaim 7 wherein said coupling pin comprises a bolt having a head whichforms one of said shoulder elements and mounting a nut which forms theother shoulder element.
 9. A mount according to claim 7 wherein saidsidewall flanges slope downwardly in directions away from said slotstoward the end edges of said bracket sidewalls to permit pivotaladjustment of said article about said coupling pin.
 10. A mountaccording to claim 7 wherein: said mounting bracket includes an end wallintegrally joined to and rising from one end of said mounting base andextending between and integrally joined to corresponding end edges ofsaid bracket sidewalls; said coupling tongue has a slot opening awayfrom said end wall and receiving said coupling pin; and the spacingbetween said end wall and coupling pin is such that said coupling tongueis captivated between said end wall and coupling pin.